UPDATE 1-Japan regulator probes steel firms -source

(Reuters) - The commission had also raided the offices of Sumitomo Metal
Industries Ltd. and Kubota Corp. on suspicion
of collusion to fix prices and decide which would get orders from
construction firms, the source said.




The suspected wrongdoing took place between 2004 and 2005,
the source said.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Japanese Shares Advance, Paced by KDDI on Earnings; Metal Producers Fall

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese shares advanced, led by KDDI
Corp. on speculation more companies will report higher earnings
for the fiscal first quarter.

Limiting gains, commodity producers such as Sumitomo Metal
Mining Co. and Inpex Holdings Inc. declined after prices of gold,
copper and crude oil fell.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japanese Shares Slide on Rising Bond Yields, Abe Consumption Tax Comment

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks slipped, snapping a
six-day rally. Electric power companies and property developers
paced declines after yields on U.S. and Japanese government
bonds climbed, raising borrowing costs for businesses.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. fell the most in four weeks, while
Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. lost 1.5 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japanese Stocks May Rise After Commodities Prices Rebound; Banks May Slide

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks may rise after prices
for commodities including copper and oil rebounded. Metals
producers such as Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. and trading houses
including Mitsubishi Corp. may pace gains.

Lenders may decline after the Financial Services Agency
ordered Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. to improve compliance
in its overseas operations and Credit Suisse Group lowered its
rating on shares of Mizuho Financial Group Inc.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Asian Stocks Advance, Led by Mizuho Financial; Samsung, Exporters Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks advanced this week after
Japanese lenders Mizuho Financial Group Inc. forecast record
earnings and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. said profit
will increase this business year.

``The banks are really standing out as their earnings have
fostered some confidence,'' said Hideyuki Ookoshi, who oversees
$365 million at Chiba-Gin Asset Management Co. in Tokyo.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japanese Shares Rise After Mizuho Forecasts Record Profit; Hitachi Climbs

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks rose for a third day.
Banks led indexes higher after Mizuho Financial Group Inc.
forecast a record profit for this financial year.

Mizuho jumped by the most in almost a year. Sumitomo Mitsui
Financial Group Inc., which forecast on May 21 profits will
climb this year, surged 4.5 percent, adding to a 5.7 percent
gain yesterday.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japanese Stocks Rise After Mizuho Forecasts Record Profit; Hitachi Climbs

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks rose for a third day.
Lenders led indexes higher after Mizuho Financial Group Inc.
forecast a record profit for this financial year.

Mizuho jumped by the most since January 2006. Sumitomo
Mitsui Financial Group Inc., which forecast on May 21 profits
will climb this year, surged 6.3 percent, adding to a 5.7
percent gain yesterday.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan Stocks May Gain, Led by Banks on Earnings; Sumitomo Metal May Climb

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese shares may advance, led by
banks, after Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. forecast
profit will increase for this business year.

Commodity-related shares such as Inpex Holdings Inc. and
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. may rise after crude oil and metals
prices gained.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News